Rachel Segalman

Rachel Segalman is the E.N. Kramer Professor of Materials and Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California Santa Barbara. She holds joint appointments in the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Materials, and Chemistry & Biochemistry within the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering. Her research group focuses on structure control over soft matter at molecular through nanoscopic length scales, with applications spanning energy conversion and biomaterials.

Professor Segalman's research interests center on understanding how molecular structure affects material properties, particularly in semiconducting polymers where crystal and grain structure influence bulk conductivity. Her work spans multiple disciplines including polymer science, materials engineering, and chemical engineering, with specific focus on energy applications such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, and thermoelectrics. She investigates how nanometer-scale patterns of internal interfaces affect charge separation and recombination in photovoltaic and light emission effects.

Her recent publications demonstrate continued leadership in polymer science, with focus areas including zwitterionic hydrogels, polymer blend compatibilization, and conjugated polyelectrolytes. These works showcase her group's expertise in manipulating molecular structure to control material properties for specific applications.

Scientific awards include:

• Election to the National Academy of Engineering (2021)
• Ernest O. Lawrence Award from the Department of Energy (2021)
• Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering (2022)
• Fellowships in multiple prestigious societies including AAAS, APS, and Royal Society of Chemistry
• Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (2008)

Professor Segalman leads collaborative research efforts through multiple platforms including GAP A (Structure and Dynamics of Water and Solutes Near Interfaces), GAP B (Role of Hydration in Ion Transport and Separations), and the Integrating Framework. Her research group is actively involved in projects related to bio-inspired materials, membranes and water interactions, conjugated polymers, mixed conducting polymers, polymeric ionic liquids, and polymer upcycling.